This September, Christie’s London presents Jasper Conran: The Collection, an intimate look into the celebrated British designer’s country house vision. Presented over a live auction on 14th September and an online session that runs throughout September, the eclectic ensemble encompasses 430 lots in total. It includes English Furniture, Old Master Paintings, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, sculpture, porcelain and decorative art pieces.
Christie’s sets the scene for the sale with a vivid description of Conran:
“The definitive voice of style and taste, Jasper Conran is known not only for his influence in fashion, but also for his passion for the English country house. Having furnished and lived in extraordinary residences including Walpole House, Chiswick, Flemings Hall, Suffolk, Ven House, Somerset and most recently New Wardour Castle, Wiltshire, Conran has curated a treasure trove of objects defined by their beauty and craftsmanship.”
Potential buyers are invited to take a 360-degree Virtual Tour of Christie’s King Street galleries, transformed under Jasper Conran’s country house vision, to explore the Collection in a more contextualised setting.
Jasper Conran commenting on the sale, said: “During the last forty years I have had the good fortune and privilege of being able to buy wonderful things from some of the greatest dealers in paintings, objects and furniture in this country including Christopher Gibbs and Peter Hinwood, Mark Weiss, Peter Hone, Will Fisher at Jamb and Edward Hurst. I don’t claim to being one of the world’s greatest collectors but I do think I have a beady eye for the beautiful.
“We have moved to a seventeenth century house in West Dorset which is much smaller than its predecessors. Given the scale of our new home, there is simply nowhere to put the collection that I have gathered, so now is the time to part. Am I sad? Yes of course, since there are several rare and precious things with wonderful provenance that I have loved and appreciated living with; HOWEVER I am pragmatic and would much rather these lovely objects go on to have new lives in new homes. They were after all, made to be seen, used and enjoyed.”
Benedict Winter, Christie’s Head of Sales, commented: “Christie’s is honoured to offer the collection of Jasper Conran whose style and vision are legendary. With his unique take on the country house, Jasper has collected wonderful pieces with equally wondrous provenances, pointing to the rich history of British collecting over the last four hundred years. It has been a joy for Christie’s to collaborate with Jasper on this exciting two part sale and to research and more deeply understand the objects that he has lived with in his homes over the years.”
Sale Highlights
Highlights from the Part I,14th September, live sale include two excellent English portraits, Portrait of Cecilia Neville in an Arcadian landscape by Robert Peake and Portrait of Anthony Maria Browne, 2nd Viscount Montagu, English School Circa 1593, a pair of George III tables, after a design attributed to Thomas Chippendale, a giltwood chandelier from Longleat House, and a Criel et Montereau Faience part dinner service formerly owned by Yves Saint Laurent.
The Part II online auction offers over 200 lots and features an English mahogany four poster bed, a Dutch School river landscape and pair of Regency mahogany hall chairs. Bidding is now open for this online auction and will run through to 21st September.
For more information on this auction please visit Christie’s. Works will also be on view at Christie’s King Street galleries until 13th September.
Christie’s is also producing a special sale catalogue: Jasper Conran: The Collection to accompany The Collection of Jasper Conran. The commemorative, lavishly illustrated catalogue celebrates the legacy of Jasper Conran’s collecting with a series of essays, alongside an overview of artworks featured in the Part I auction. It is available to purchase online.
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Photo: The White Drawing Room, New Wardour Castle. © Simon Upton